confessions of a wannabe

so here lately I have become obsessed with taking pictures. I am a wanna-be photographer. a poser really. i have my camera everywhere i go and love to take snapshots. I read MckMama & Pioneer Woman for the photo tips (okay and PW for the ridiculously yummy-high calorie recipes) i have this dream of someday being able to take them for real...kind of like professionally, but i really don't have any desire to start a business (nor do i have business-material talent). but maybe quite my day job to do it? just a thought..i have sooooo much to learn, but i am having so much fun with it in the meantime. this new hobby is up there with running for me - its the real deal. i love it. i really really do.

mat recently got me adobe photoshop light-room and its like i fell in love with taking pictures all over again. it is so fun to play with & tweak my pics. my friends, my friends' kids, my friends' baby bumps, my family, my dogs, & even my students fall prey to being my subjects and letting me "practice". i would take pictures of strangers if i didn't feel completely super-creepy about that. i have a long ways to go - but i thought i would share a few that i have recently snapped.

ps-i'm in the market for a new camera. i love my current one, but i want an slr...any recommendations out there?

Yesterday's school walk-a-thon. Didn't do much walking, but did a ton of picture taking...(and seriously, with kids this beautiful, i could have used a disposable and they would look great!)

learning some English...

A jayhawk bump...

The book club bumps

baby blue eyes

race for the cure

farmer's market

playing in the hastas

As you can see, I clearly have a long way to go... but I am loving the learning process! Any tips out there?

Another Weekend...Another Tailgate

I LOVE the fall...pumpkins, fires, mums, smores, chilli, red wine, cinnamon, leaves, Thanksgiving, football and yes - tailgating. All of these wonderful things come to mind when I think of fall. This weekend Mat & I headed up to Lawrence for the KU game and some good 'ol fashion tailgating. If you know us well, we are huge BIG 12 fans and jumped at the opportunity for watching one of other favorite Big 12 teams play. If you have read the previous post, you are also well aware of our love for tailgating. It combines all things wonderful: friends, the outdoors, yummy food, & fall. We were up and on the road nice and early but it was well worth it for some fun times with the Kellers, Gosses & the Whelans (and did I mention the yummy food?!) Thanks for a fantastic tailgate friends! Can't wait until next week!

Jeff & Todd

Season tickets bought with student discount:

plus: CHEAP

minus: I am now a "dependent child" of my husband...

Lindsay - our hostess with the most-ess

(& my fellow running partner!)

Look at that cute little bump!! I have a feeling that baby L is going to be quite the Jayhawk fan!

Sorry Sarah, I couldn't help myself - I had to snap some pics of the bump

The drive home...Mat (aka the lobster) & Drew

GO POKES!

This past weekend Mat and I were able to get away from our everyday life. The everyday life that for the past few weeks has consisted of

caseloads,

boards,

lesson plans,

rounding,

meetings,

ACP posters,

getting scratched by a whiny kindergartner

and overall BLAHH.

By no means am I complaining, just justifying how badly we needed this weekend off together. It was Mat's first whole weekend off (that he didn't have to work or study for boards in 6 weeks- Again ladies- this whole "married to a doctor" business...more than meets the eye) We took off to none other than STILLWATER, OK to watch my most favorite Cowboys dominate Georgia. We are both HUGE college football fans and love traveling to watch our teams play. And tailgating. We LOVE to tailgate. LOVE it. By Saturday morning, we were beyond ready to get our tailgate on. OSU style. (KU fans out there - tailgating in Lawrence has NOTHING on tailgating in Stillwater.) Let me paint the picture: A beautiful September day, A luxurious RV, a flat screen TV with surround sound set up outside, jupiter jump for the kiddos, more food than one could ever imagine, beverages galore. Mat and I had an incredible time. We got to hang out with some of our dearest friends, the Millers and their adorable kiddos Easton, Emmy & Cohen. Hanging out with this fantastic family definitely made us eager to start a family of our own=) These are the kind of friends you hang out with and just smile and understand why God invented friends.

The setup

Here's a few of the fun memories from our trip:

1. The cheese-ball incident. Those involved know what I am talking about. I love my husband too much to type any more...(the pictures were mysteriously erased from my camera...)

2. Visiting our college home, 80 University Circle with Carissa, my college roomie and walking in like we still owned the place (Suz & Rachel - WISH you could have been there!)

Isn't it cute?! And don't we still look like we could be in college?!

3. FINALLY meeting baby Cohen. Seriously - LOVE those baby blues.

4. The pokes winning (AND the sooners LOOSING!)

5. The Georgia tailgate incident. Some of our fellow tailgaters decided to invade a Georgia tailgate nearby during the game and returned with some souvenirs. I was laughing too hard to take a decent picture...but it was quite amusing - especially when Georgia returned for their souvenirs.

Georgia Flag "hidden" at the tailgate

Thank you Mike & Carissa for letting us tag along for such a great tailgate! We had a terrific time and can't wait to do it again! GO POKES!

You know its a good tailgate when the random Bama fan shows up...